Fighting for Additional Coronavirus Relief for Stations Legislation
As broadcasters continue to confront the challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis, including a steep decline in advertising revenue, NAB's advocacy team has been fighting for legislative relief for broadcasters.
More than 300 House and Senate members have gone on record to support broadcast relief through either expansion of the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program or through additional federal advertising support.
In addition, the House passed legislation - the HEROES Act - last month that expands eligibility for broadcasters to participate in the SBA loan program. And, bipartisan, stand-alone legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate.
The expansion of these loans for local media will:
- Provide television and radio broadcasters, as well as newspapers, the same treatment that hotels and restaurants received under the original CARES Act loan program - eligibility based on a physical location basis;
- Require a local station to fit within the SBA size standard for the broadcasting industry, or under $41.5 million in revenue annually; and
- Ensure that expanded loan funds remain at the local level through additional oversight.
See how NAB is continuing to fight for station relief in the current stimulus bill and what we're asking Congress to provide. You can find all of these resources at nab.org/stimulus.
If you have not yet done so, please reach out to your legislators to reinforce the need for congressional action here.
Thank you for your continued service to your communities as Americans - and stations - face an unprecedented time. It is our honor to represent you in the nation's capital, and we are always here for our members. NAB members may reach out to nab@nab.org or call the NAB Member Concierge at (202) 775-2555 with questions or concerns.